Kuniko Ruch

Artist Statement

My most recent series have been an exploration of particular places and people that have been paid little attention in busy city life. I take the camera to these places for documentation and recording purposes. Often times, dingy and atypical locations attract me more than a mall scene where I feel a void of communication, energy, and honesty.

Once the cityscape is complete the particular location becomes very personal for me …. as if I lived there. At times I go back and the very same stores have been razed to make room for gentrification. However the people and the structures will be forever in my heart, my memory, and on my canvas.

We are indeed fortunate to be alive in this 21st Century to witness evolutionary theory in action.

Whether its printing and publishing being changed by high tech or transportation impacted by modernity, we are reminded that this is a multilayered process and though the specter of a bullet train is majestic , originally it was a rickshaw puller that got humanity from here to there."